Meanwhile, group manager transport and utilities for Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC), Wayne Sartori, continues to do his best to lift the morale of airport business operators by raising the possibility that council may assign their leases to the new airport manager, now that council has kindly attended to their re-negotiation at the expense of residents/ratepayers.

For BVSC to consider such an option would be entirely irresponsible and defy common sense, given the conflicts of interest that might arise for the new manager and the potential negative consequences for airport businesses, not to forget the fact that council has historically failed to ensure that a robust and independent grievance process was put in-place to protect the interests of airport business-owners. 

The BVSRRA believes that all ancillary businesses should be kept separate to management arrangements made for the operation of the airport, thereby protecting the interests of those businesses, whilst ensuring that the role of the manager remains focused on the operation of the airport.

Notwithstanding past claims that the airport business is at best a ‘break-even’ proposition (even with the lease income of the airport businesses included), it appears that the sky’s now the limit for the future of our regional airport, given the “promise” of a significant amount of “magic pudding” investment funding from the NSW government to underwrite its expansion.

It also seems that the more things need to change, the more they stay the same

John Richardson

Secretary/Treasurer

Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association